Editing HM Prison Bronzefield (section)

==History==
The site was originally home to West London District School, a [[Boarding school|residential school]] opened in September 1872 for the education of orphans, which came under the control of [[London County Council]] from April 1930. In 1931 it provided residential accommodation for 640 children from the [[County of London]], but by the time of its closure in 1955 this had dwindled to just 40.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barker |first1=D. M. |last2=Barker |first2=J. L. |date=2006 |title=Aspects of Ashford |location=Addlestone, Surrey|publisher=Borough Books |isbn=978-0-9537547-1-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ramsden |first=Peter J. |date=1995 |title=Looking Back at Ashford Middlesex : A Photograph Album |location=Doncaster, South Yorks. |publisher=Aspen Books |isbn=0 9510833 3 3}}</ref> In 1961 the site was repurposed as '''Ashford Remand Centre''', a [[Pre-trial detention|detention]] facility for boys aged 14 to 21 which became notorious for the decrepit state of its facilities and its reputation for violence. The remand centre was closed down in 1988, but was briefly reopened due to overcrowding issues before its final closure in 1990, after which the buildings were demolished.<ref>{{cite book |last=Scripps |first=Jenny |title=History of Ashford |location=Staines-upon-Thames|publisher=Spelthorne Museum}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidetime.org/behind-the-gate-the-life-and-infamous-times-of-britains-prisons-this-month-hmp-bronzefield/ |author=Noel Smith |title=Behind the Gate – The life and infamous times of Britain’s prisons: this month HMP Bronzefield |publisher=InsideTime |date=31 May 2020 |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_9929 |title=Ashford Remand Centre: Governor's Journals |website=surreyarchives.org.uk |publisher=[[Surrey History Centre]] |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>

Bronzefield Prison was opened in June 2004 as the UK's new top-security prison for women.

Since its opening, Bronzefield has gained media coverage for its prisoners, its supposedly lax regime, high staff turnover and continued extremely poor industrial relations.<ref>{{cite web|author=Erwin James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jan/25/thetruthaboutbutlinsbehindbars |title=The truth about 'Butlins behind bars' &#124; Comment is free &#124; guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref>

In 2009, a 77-bed unit was built on the existing site, taking the operational capacity up to 527. Plans also exist to further expand the prison to include a male section along the lines of HMP Peterborough (also run by [[Sodexo Justice Services]]), making it a dual prison holding males and females.

In 2012, it was reported that Bronzefield was the first prison in the UK to have its own branch of the [[Women's Institutes|Women's Institute]]. The branch is for members of staff and for inmates who are taking part in resettlement programmes ahead of their release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a369286/womens-institute-sets-up-branch-in-womens-prison.html |title=Women's Institute sets up branch in women's prison - Odd News |publisher=Digital Spy |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref>